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Eating with other people can boost happiness and diminish depression, and it might promote healthier eating choices. Read on to find out why a weekly potluck with friends and family does a person good.

Grab Some Grub, Communally — Your Action Plan

Reaping the benefits of communal eating is pretty simple: Just gather some people together around food, sit down together, talk, eat, and enjoy! Here are some tips for planning a meal with friends and family:

Plan a potluck. Meals with friends are way more appealing when one person doesn't have to do all the work — just make sure to find out what dishes people are bringing ahead of time so there aren't nine desserts and one spinach salad when it's time to eat. (Because having nine desserts to choose from sounds like a terrible fate... sort of.)

Choose killer recipes. One of the best parts about eating with friends — aside from the good company — is, well, eating. Make sure the food is delicious by trying some of Greatist's tried and true recipes.

Set a date. Commitments are way harder to break when they're scheduled in advance. Work with the group to establish a meeting time that works for everybody the majority of the time — say, every Tuesday evening — and stick to it.

Make a reservation. Find out that all your friends are less than gifted in the kitchen? No problem. Going out for a meal with friends or family allows you to reap all the benefits of communal eating without any of the post-meal clean up (and the associated stress). Just be sure to pick a healthy spot, and don't let the social setting derail your diet.

Originally published July 2011. Updated August 2012.

Do you eat regular meals with friends or family? Does it make you happier? Share your experiences in the comments below!